It can get tough keeping track of rumors on days like this, whether they involve present or future NHL players, so here’s a roundup of the discussion points in South Florida so far.
TRADE RUMORS: All-time No. 1 picks | Hottest topics in trade rumor mill | Draft selection order
Patrick Sharp
Considering the way things went this season, Sharp might not be the best forward on the market, but the 33-year-old former 30-goal scorer is good (and available) enough to be a big deal.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, seeking a top six-caliber forward despite a lack of tradable assets, are among teams interested. The Washington Capitals are too, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune. One team to scratch off the list: the Dallas Stars. A team source told the Dallas Morning News:
“He’s a great player, but he’s not what we need right now,” the club official told Mike Heika . “It’s that simple.”
Given Sharp’s salary ($5.9 million against the cap) and the Blackhawks’ asking price (three big-time assets, according to reports), the Stars’ stance makes sense. Look at the Penguins; adding Sharp’s salary would necessitate clearing cap space. Trading center Brandon Sutter, flawed as he may be, would open up a hole on the third line that nobody within the organization can fill.
STANLEY CUP: Blackhawks’ dynasty | Kimmo Timonen’s reward | Repeat? It’s possible
Paying the Blackhawks’ price — 2014 first-round pick Kasperi Kapanen? A young defensemen? — and then relying on the free-agent market to restock after the next domino falls would be a huge risk.
That said, Sharp is worth examining as a short-term, bounce-back candidate. He drove play last season and saw his shooting percentage drop from 10.9 to 7.0 percent, which suggests bad luck.
DRAFT: Preliminary selection order | What you need to know | Top prospects | Best Europeans
The third pick
Arizona is still trying to move the McDavid/Eichel door prize, and Don Maloney said Thursday that he had an offer from a team with two first-round picks and player for No. 3 overall. The Winnipeg Jets hold Nos. 17 and 25, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told this to the Canadian Press; read between the lines.
The Jets, like a lot of teams, are high on top-rated defenseman Noah Hanifin .
Goalie musical chairs
Markstrom was an AHL All-Star last season. Lack has been solid and is a fan favorite in Vancouver to the point that there’s a petition for the team not to trade him. Not a concern, Benning said on Thursday.
“I know if that’s the way we decide to go, I could get criticized," he said . “But that’s part of the job. There’s nothing I can do about that.”
Rangers GM Glen Sather’s quest to get a first-round pick in return for Talbot (.926 save percentage in 36 games last season) continues, according to the New York Post . That’s a high price to pay for any goalie, let alone a largely unproven one. Is Talbot “Cory Schneider good?” Sather hopes so — or at least, that the market for him is comparable.
The Senators, with Andrew Hammond still in the fold, also must figure out what to do with Anderson and/or Lehner. There’s this to think about, from NHL.com Canucks correspondent Kevin Woodley.
The Oilers need a goalie, and Dubnyk and Niemi will make more than Anderson’s current $3.19 million cap hit.
Ryan O’Reilly
It’s probably time for both sides to cut bait, yeah? O’Reilly is a superb two-way center, but at some point, he and the Avalanche are going to have to commit or say goodbye.
Surprise: Lots of teams would and should be interested in him.
Kyle Okposo
The Isles winger is under contract for one more season at a $2.9 million hit and is capable of scoring 25 or 30 goals. The Isles aren’t sure whether he’s worth $7 million or more on an extension, though, so a trade is at least a possibility. Just not a strong one, according to Newsday’s Arthur Staple.
Dollars, not cap space, would be the issue for the Islanders. In any case, they should hold tight. John Tavares’ prime is now and getting a ready-to-contribute piece as good as Okposo isn’t likely. The Isles would be wise to see how things shake out next season.
